Giving Love and Support

Well, I mentioned in my previous post that I was going to dig around in my stash to figure out what I would be working on during Scrapbook Day - but then I read an email from a dear friend whose FIL is very, very ill. She and her husband know that I've been thinking and praying for strength and recovery for their father and their family, but I felt moved to make a card for them anyhow. This card utilizes the faux layering technique and was achieved by lots of sponging, torn post-it notes and a bit of masking with the tree and strands of grass around the deer silhouette. I wanted to have a lower border with a floral selection from Pocket Silhouettes, yet have another scene on the cardfront in addition to not having the bulk of additional layers, so the faux layering technique was the perfect choice. I'm very pleased with this card... perhaps it is a bit unusual, but to me, it conveys warmth, strength and serenity. I extended the floral border to the inside of the card with plenty of room to write some thoughts before giving them this card.

I will be back soon to post the things I make during Scrapbook Day.... I have no idea what I'm going to do yet, so I guess I'll close and poke around my craft room a bit. Take care, and let the ones you love know it, and that you are always there for them! See you next time.... :)

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes, Pocket Silhouettes, Sentiment from Friends 2-7

Paper: Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke

Ink: Chocolate Chip, black, Cameo Coral, More Mustard, Always Artichoke

Accessories: post-its, sponge dauber, brads

Happy B-Day, Human!

It's Friday once again... I tell ya, it seems like the older I get, the faster time flies! Is it that way with you, too? Speaking of getting older, this birthday card was made for one of my daughter's best friends and she just turned 11..... many Happy Birthday celebrations to her!!!

This cute, girly robot comes from Lots of Bots, one of the new stamp sets available with the new catalog. My daughter flipped for this set when she saw it. She read the sentiment that comes with this image out loud in the most perfect robotic voice "Happy Birthday Human!" - gosh, we laughed so hard because I think she startled herself. Kids are great, aren't they?

I stamped the sentiment only on Whisper White, punched it out with the large star punch, sponged the edges of the star's points, and put it on the inside of the card. The card's colors and watercolored robot are Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry (perfect for a little girl), and the patterned paper is another selection from the Razzleberry Lemonade collection. The scallop circle is a die cut from the Scallop Circle #2 die. I added pen dots around a couple of the panels from the new Melon Mambo marker - I love that Stampin' Up made the In-Color markers.... YAY SU!!

I hope that you have a wonderful start to your weekend. I have my monthly scrapbook club meeting tomorrow, so I better go dig around in my stash and figure out what I'll be working on... take care and come back soon!

Stamps: Lots of Bots
Paper: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Black, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo marker
Accessories: aquapainter, sponge dauber, circle cutter, brads, small & large star punch, BigShot, Scallop Circle #2 die

Elephant Thanks You!

Although I won't be able to attend Convention this year due to scheduling conflicts, I did sign up for a few "long distance" project swaps - so with this, work, and the kids activities over summer, time has been flying by... As I've been working on my swap projects, I've found that the new In-Colors are really growing on me. I love the richness and jewel tones of these new In-Colors... these are definitely colors that are bold and beautiful in person. I chose to use Crushed Curry today, and I really love it paired with Pumpkin Pie!

I needed to make a Thank You card for a swap hostess - Virginia's doing such a fabulous job with coordinating this event, and I wanted her to know it! I was able to use a piece of the Razzleberry Lemonade patterned paper and the new Modern Label punch. I love this little elephant from Animal Stories, and the sentiment comes from a wonderful set called Really Retro. This card layout was a snap to put together, and I hope Virginia likes it!

Have a super Thursday everyone.... I'll be back very soon with a sweet, funny, little birthday card that was made for one of my daughter's best friend. Ta ta for now!

Stamps: Animal Stories, Really Retro
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Circle Cutter, Crushed Curry ribbon, dimensional popdots, SU punches - eyelet border, word window & modern label

Summer Deals & Club Details

Throughout July, Stampin' Up! is offering a super promotion each week called.... (ready?).... Deals of the Week! :) This week's special is the Big Shot Doctor's Bag for only $49.95. Be sure to check my business website each Monday after 9am, Arizona time, to get the scoop! You can place your order right away by clicking the "shop now" button in the upper right corner. In addition to these great weekly promotions, between July 15 through August 31st, you can sign up as a demonstrator for just $85..... how cool is that!?! You can even sign up online through my business website (just email me for the password at june@mycreativecorner.com). Be sure to click the links to get the latest information about these awesome promotions.

CLUB DETAILS

The new catalog season is here, and I wanted to give you a heads up about my next round of Hostess Clubs that are forming right now. This is a great way to build up your supplies gradually in a very budget-friendly way! I am organizing an "every other month" club where members can make free projects with their group and learn about the variety, flexibility and coordination of products that Stampin' Up! offers in their various catalogs. Not only that, but each club member will get a turn to be the "hostess" during the club rotation. During your month as hostess, you'll receive at least one Level 1 hostess stamp set AND a minimum of $15 in free merchandise. You can earn more benefits by collecting "outside" orders to boost your total sales during your month, or maybe we can schedule in a workshop near the club date to really maximize your benefits! In addition, you will receive a free copy of the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog. To join in as a member of the hostess club, you agree to purchase $25 in Stampin' Up! merchandise (before tax and shipping) during your "every-other" club months. Your order needs to be submitted on or before your club dates, so that the hostess for that month can select her hostess benefits, and I can get everyone's order in... pronto! :)

I am setting up two clubs to start with a limit of 6 participants in each club. Each club must be full before we can start the group, so if you have a "new-to-me" friend that signs up - you'll receive a free Classic inkpad as a thank-you! Pick the group which has dates that better fit into your normal schedule - I don't want you to miss out on your free make-n-takes when we meet for club!

"Sunday Stampers" group, with a focus on cards and 3-D items, will meet between 2-4pm on:
July 26, 2009
September 20, 2009
November 15, 2009
January 24, 2010
March 7, 2010
May 16, 2010

"Monday Stampers" group, with a focus on scrapbooking, will meet between 7-9pm on:
August 10, 2009
October 12, 2009
December 7, 2009
February 8, 2010
April 5, 2010
June 7, 2010

You can fill out my contact page HERE to join (please specify which group you are signing up for in the comment section), or send an email to june@mycreativecorner.com and I will respond shortly. In case you might be wondering, I will be offering additional projects, challenges and classes throughout the catalog year to keep your mojo hummin' during those months that we aren't meeting for club, so no worries! PLUS, in addition to the great benefits as hostess during your club month and free projects to make during your meetings, Club Members receive $5 off all of my classes offered throughout the year! Don't wait.... Sign up today!

Have a super day! :)

Tech Tues Sneak Peek

Hello again! I wanted to mention a quick reminder about my upcoming Technique Tuesday class to be held on June 30th at 7pm in my home. In addition to other projects, we will be making this gorgeous rose that's shown on the card above - you won't believe how EASY this is to create! Really... you'll be amazed!! Additional details about the class are located HERE, and the cost for this class is $12. If you are in the Phoenix area and would like to attend, I'd love for you to join us for a fun evening! Please RSVP by June 23rd through my contact page HERE, or you can send an email to june@mycreativecorner.com and I'll be contacting you shortly.

Have a wonderful day!

So Tweet Layout

Hello... hope the start of the week is going well for you... I've been feeling a bit under the weather the last two days, so I took it easy and worked on this whimsical 12x12 scrapbook page of my daughters throughout the day. Remember, you can click the photos and a bigger version will refresh on your screen... when you're done, just hit the back button to get back to the main page...

I used the leftover patterned paper from the altered clock project & lightweight chipboard to create my "so tweet" letters that were die cut with the BigShot & Serif Essentials alphabet die set. After gluing all of the patterned paper to the various chipboard pieces with SU's "anywhere glue stick" (love this product by the way!), I lightly sponged the edges with Melon Mambo ink, and used the new Melon Mambo marker to add some penworks on the letters. The bird's tail & wing, and the little flower were covered with Melon Mambo cardstock, trimmed out and stamped with the swirl stamp from the Wings of Friendship Hostess level 2 stamp set in Melon Mambo ink. The bird's eye and legs were sponged with Soft Suede ink. The branch was sponged with Old Olive ink. The beak was covered with the same paper as the background, and lightly sponged with Crushed Curry ink. The photo was matted several times, with one of the layers punched with the eyelet punch. I added a little sub-title with the new Modern Label punch in the upper right corner. Swirls and little notes were added last.

I love to scrapbook, and I should devote more time to it as I'm terribly behind with all the family photos. It was fun to focus on chipboard today with this layout, and I hope you enjoy my page. Have a great evening... I'm off to eat some soup and lay down under a blankie... Ta ta for now, and said with my best Arnold impersonation... "I'll be back...." :)

Stamps: Wings of Friendship (swirl stamp on bird wing/tail/flower)

Paper: Pixie Pink, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Inks: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Melon Mambo (inkpad and marker)

Accessories: Big Shot, Swirly Sizzlet Decorative Strip, Billboard Alphabet Strip, Serif Essentials Alphabet dies, So Tweet On-Board Chipboard, Eyelet border punch, modern label punch, Family Treasures music note punch, 1/4" circle punch, sanding block, sponge/daubers, anywhere glue stick

Tick Tock... Altered Clock

Hello again!!! Today's project features an altered clock that I worked on yesterday at a monthly crop that I coordinate for a bunch of die-hard crafters. It started out as a plain white plastic clock that I picked up at Target for less than $5 dollars... the face is about 8 inches in diameter and fills a need that I had for my craft room. I have a little desk clock in there, but it always get buried beneath whatever project I happen to be working on at the time. Besides, I wanted to showcase a couple of new In-Colors, and a lovely patterned paper design from the new and upcoming "Razzleberry Lemonade" paper collection that will be available for purchase from the new catalog starting July 1st. I really adore this paper collection!!! Be prepared because I will be using lots, and lots, and lots of it!!! :)

It wasn't difficult to remove the front clear plastic cover that protected the clock hands, so if you would like to try this and purchase this same clock at Target, just go slow and press in the two little tabs on the back of the clock for removal. After the cover was removed, I gently pulled off the clock hands and carefully peeled off the paper with the clock's numbers. I used this paper as a template for the patterned paper and just used small scissors to cut around it. I did lightly sponge the patterned paper circle around the outer edge and hole for the clock's spindle with Crushed Curry ink.

The outside plastic was painted with acrylic paint and distressed with a sponge and brown ink. I chose a purple that very closely matched Rich Razzleberry and golden yellow that resembled Crushed Curry. Once distressed with the brown ink, the colors turned out looking aged and "antiquey" (is that a word? LOL!!). Once the paint job was the way that I wanted it, I put a coat of ModgePodge over the whole thing. NOTE - If and when I do this again (as it would make a GREAT gift!), I am going to use masking-tape to protect the clock spindle and spray paint a primer coat all over the plastic before painting. The acrylic paint can be easily scratched off otherwise.... that's why I ended up using ModgePodge to (hopefully) protect the paint job. However, since it's a clock and will only be handled when I change the battery, I think this will be OK and last a long time.

The numbers on the clock were made with corduroy buttons (non-SU) and altered/sanded chipboard diamonds from the Blossoms & Basics chipboard collection (retired). I used the BigShot and Little Leaves Sizzlet die to make an arrangement of leaves on the clock face. The butterflies were stamped with Rich Razzleberry ink using the butterfly stamp from the Great Friend stamp set, then cut out and glued onto the clock face with the wing tips slightly curled upward (HINT - make sure nothing is too tall to impede the movement of the clock's hands!). I assembled my clock back together, inserted a battery, and Voila... it's finished and ready for display!!

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at my altered clock... and I hope it inspired you to try this project out for yourself! It wasn't hard to do at all, but it did take me all day to do it (of course, I spent ALOT of time talking, listening, laughing, going out for a dinner run, then talking, laughing... HEY, you get the gist.... a roomful of crafters are too much fun! Tee hee! Have a great week ahead, and come back soon! Till next time... :)

Stamps: Great Friend
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade designer series paper collection
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, brown staz-on, acrylic paints
Accessories: small paintbrushes, sponges, BigShot, Little Leaves sizzlet, mono-multi glue, corduroy buttons, chipboard, sanding block, ModgePodge, clock!